Converter



(No Model.) v 2 SheetsSheet 1.

R. 1?. LUDLOW.

GONVERTEE.

No. 423,612: Patented Mar, 18, 1890.

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N. PETERS. Hula-Lithograph! Washmgton. D C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. v R. F. LU DLOW.

CONVERTER No. 423,612. Patented Mar. 18, 1890.

WITNESSES UNITED ,STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

RODNEY F. LUDLOWV, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

CONVERTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,612, dated March 18, 1890.

I Application filed December 18, 1888. Serial No. 293,980. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RODNEY F. LUDLoW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Converters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates toapparatus for decarbonizing iron and removing or liberating the impurities contained therein while in a molten state by the action of atmospheric air cally the entire body put in motion, to the end that the contained impurities may be consumed or liberated and decarbonization effected, rendering the mass in condition to be recarbonized by uniting therewith some carbonizing agent to convert it into malleable iron or wrought-iron, or into steel.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and on which like reference-letters indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view of a converter and a partial sectional view and elevation of the air-blast pipes and adjusting mechanism; Fig. 2, a horizontal section of the same parts on the line w a: of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a detail View of the adj Listing-platen, with a portion of the air-pipe thereon in different positions; Fig. 4, a vertical sectional view of. the converter, with the air-pipe and portions of the tuyeres in elevation; Fig. 5, a side elevation of the apparatus, looking from the rear of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6, an enlarged partial sectional and partial plan view of the apparatus on the line y y of Fig. 4.

This apparatus is designed to aiford one Letter A designates the vessel which I term the converter, built or lined with refractory material and conveniently located with respect to the surface of the ground or floor about the apparatus on which the workmen stand. It is by preference of the type illustrated in the several figures, being rectangular in three sides, substantially semicircular in the fourth side, and terminating in an inclined neck or exit B, and provided with openings O and D for the introduction of the molten metal and for inspecting the same after the blast is cutoff and for introducing the carbonizing agent after the metal has been decarbouized. The openings 0 and D may be interchangeably used for these purposes. One of the vertical Walls of the converter is constructed with a series of slots or passages E for the reception of the tuyeres, and of such shapeas to permit the tuyeres to be adjusted to diiferent positions or inclinations and to different lateral directions relative to the converter.

The letter F refers to a blast-pipe provided with a cut-'off G, preferably in the form of a slide H, operated by a lever I, fulcrumed to the pipe through a band and pin J. This pipe has rotatably fitted over its lower end an elbow K, and to this elbow is also rotatably fitted a tuyeresection L. These two rotatable joints admit of the double adjustment of the tuyere-seotion, the one adjustment being to and from the converter and the other in a rotary direction, so as to change the angles of the tuyeres M carried by the tuyere-section L. The elbow K is also slidingly fitted to the pipe F to admit of the vertical up-anddown adjustment of it, so as to raise andlower the tuyere-section, and consequently the attached ends of the tuyeres.

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated the tuye'res and tuyere-section as occupying an elevated position on full lines and a lower position on dot= ted lines, While in Fig. 6 I have illustrated three positions of the tuyere-section-one in full lines and two in dotted lines, the latter as showing the section adjusted, respectively, toward and from the converter. The dotted lines within the converter and. projecting from the inner ends of the tuyeres suggest the directly-lateral and laterally-varying directions which the air-blasts take under the several adjustments just described of the tuyere-section. The combined result of these various adjustments of the tuyeres is the universality of direction of the air-currents,. so as to reach the molten mass at different distances from the tuyere side of the converter and at all parts of the surface in practicing the method hereinbefore alluded to, for which this-apparatus in one type of construction is essentially designed.

Various instrument-alities may be employed for the up-and-downadjustment of the elbow K and the tuyere-section L and the tuyeres.

I have illustrated one form, the same consisting of the platens P, provided with heads broad enough to admit of the various lateral adjustments of the tuyere-section, as suggested at Fig. 3, and fashioned to form a' rack-bar at one side and mounted in vertical ways in the brackets Q, secured, by'preference, to the converter, and carrying a shaft R,'on which are rigidly mounted toothed segments S, which mesh with the rack construction of the platens, and. one of which had a hand-lever T to manipulate the apparatus. The cut-off H, hereinbefore referred to, controls the admission of air or the amount thereof to the tuyeres.

It will of course be understood, in referring hereinbefore to the use of the openings 0 and D- for the admission of the molten metal, that it is drawn from a furnace or other melting apparatus. A'cupolathat is to say, a vessel constructed after the manner of a cupolawhen provided with my improvements will be understood as included within the term converter or converter vessel. The openings 0 and D may also be used besides for the purposes hereinbefore mentioned for skimming the dross or otherimpurities which accumulate on the surface of the iron. I also takeout of the converter through either of these openings some of the metal-to more closely inspect its condition, should occasion projecting through a Wall of the vessel and.

discharging intothe same, and mechanism for elevating and lowering said sections.

2. In an apparatus for decarbonizing iron and liberating the impurities contained therein, the combination, with a converter-vessel having slots in one wall thereof, the outer ends of the slots being deeper than the inner ends, of a blast-pipe having a cut-off, an elbow-section rotatably and slidingly connected thereto, a tuyere-section rotatably connected to the elbow-section, and a series of tuyeres extending from the tuyere-section through said openings in the converter-wall, and mechanism to raise and lower said sections, the rotatable movement'of the tuyere-section changing the angles of the tuyeres in one general direction, and the elevation of the elbow-section changing them in the other general direction.

3. In an apparatus for decarbonizing iron and liberating theimpurities contained there: in, the combination, with a fixed air-blast pipe having a cut off, of an elbow-section I slidingly and rotatably connected thereto,

the tuyere -section rotatably connected to the elbow-section and provided with a series of tuyeres, and slidingly-mounted platens supporting said sections, having rack-teeth, a

shaft, and toothed segments mounted therein engaging said rack-teeth, and provided with a lever to manipulate the segments.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RODNEYF. LUDLOW.

Witnesses:

E. S. WALLACE, WARREN HULL. 

